Float for supporting fire hose nozzles



A. J. LAN DRY 7 1,826,892

FLOAT FOR SUPPORTING FIRE HOSE NOZZLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1931.

Filed July 25, 1930 lnverfiov.

Arihur J. Lcmdvy YMM M Afiys.

Oct. 13, 1931. v A. J; LANDRY 6,

FLOAT FOR SUPPORTING FIRE HOSE NOZZLES Filed July 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3. 7 i

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lnvenTov. ArThur' J. Landry WW Mzf Anya.

' enter the most restricted locations.

is the fact that a substantial amount of space must exist in which to maneuver the boat. In many situations the available space below the structure prohibits the use of such equipment in which case the situation is hopeless.

There are on record many fires where enormous loss has occurred in the situation such as that above pointed out. It is freely acknowledged that if suitable equipment had been available the loss in such case would have been relatively small. The present invention supplies the means with which a powerful jet of fire extinguishing fluid may be projected upwardly against burning objects which are situated in inaccessible locations close to the surface of a body of water.

The size of the float or pontoon employed to support the nozzle may be relatively small. The buoyancy required of the float is merely suflicient to support the reaction of the nozzle at maximum pressure plus the weight due to the various parts attached thereto. It has been found, therefore, that the float may be constructed of a size sufliciently small to A further very important feature of the device is its ability to deliver the maximum volume of fluid to exactly the required point without endangering the life and limb of the fireman.

In the preferred construction illustrated a shallow float or pontoon 1 is constructed of any suitable material preferably sheet metal. The pontoon may be of a relatively long nar row, r ectangular or oval shape. A thoroughly practical form for the pontoon is herein shown which is circular in plan view and conical on its upper surface. At the top of the'conical portion 2 a hollow fitting 3 is secured by means of the ears 4 to the float. The hollow fitting 3 functions as a9 0 elbow to direct the fluid fed thereto in a horizontal direction upwardly in a substantially vertical direction. The horizontal portioni5 of the fitting 3 is provided with a threaded-conned tion to receive the end of a standard hose coupling 6 at the end of a hose line 7 which communicates with the fluid-supplying means. The vertical portion of the hollow fitting 3 is provided with male screw threads to receive a nozzle 8. The nozzle maybe of any desired type or thedevice may operate without a nozzle. The particular nozzle shown-is of the rotary type having a'rotating head 9 by means of which the fluid is spread throughout aconsiderable area. Any other suitable arrangement of float and nozzle may be employed however.

Means are provided to manipulate the float from a remote point. A desirable method of accomplishing this result is herein illustrated. A rigid arm 10 preferably formed of detachable sections is secured at one end to the float and is operable at its other end to control the movement of the float and thus direct the stream of water into the most effective position. The arm 10 may be rigidly attached to the float or secured thereto in any desirable manner. AS shown, the arm is flexibly connected to the float 1 by means of a U shape bail member 11 the two le s of which are provided with eyeleted ends-12 which are connected to eye-bolts 13 fixed near the periphery of the float at diagonally opposite points thereof. 7 The ball member 11 is provided with a socket 14 at substantially the midpoint between the two legs thereof. The socket 14 is adapted to receive one end of the first of the sections 15 of which the a m 10 is composed. The other end of the sections 15 are provided with sockets 16 to receive the ends of the succeeding sections of the arm. By assembling a plurality of sections the arm may be extended to the desired length.

The sections 15 are constructed of hollow metal tubing preferably square in cross section. A method will be hereinafter described in detail by means of which the arm 10 is used to tip the float out of its normally vertical position by rotating it about its longitudinal axis. The square cross sectional shape of the sections 15 is readily adapted to the formation of firm unyielding joints between the sec tions so that when the arm is assembled it will be sufficiently rigid to give the operator of the device complete control over the float. The sections 15 may be constructed of short lengths of standard square tubin upon one end of which is secured a short piece of tubing 1'? of a size to loosely flt over one end of each section. The tubing 1'? is telescoped upon the end of the tube 15 for substantially one-half of its length, and is welded thereto as at 18 or otherwise secured to the tubing 15. The projecting end of the tube 17 then constitutes the socket 1-6 into which the end of the next section is fitted.

To secure the sections 15 of the arm 10 together a plurality of pins 19 are projected through'apertures 20 in the tubes 17 and also through registering apertures 21 in the ends of the tube sections 10. The pins 19 are provided with heads 22 at one end and at their other ends which project through and beyond the tubing 17 rectangular openings 23 are formed in which are received especially constructed keys 24-. The end section 25 of each key is of a size to readily pass through the aperture 23 while the middle section thereof 26 is slightly less'in height than that of the section 25 whilethe third section 27 will not pass through the aperture. A small coil spring 28 is placed under the heads 22 of the pins and bears against the tubing 17. To assemble the sections of the arm 10 the small ends thereof-are fitted into the sockets 16 of the adjacent sections. The pins 19 are then thrust into the registering apertures of the two adj acent sections until the coil spring is compressed slightly, at which time. the

apertures -23'arefree to receive the ke y s 24 which are inserted therein untilthe'apei expand 'b'ringing the upper face 29 of" the aperture 23 against the upper edgefof the section 26 of thekey thus locking the key and the pins securely in position. To further insurethe locked condition of the sections a hole-may be drilled inthe section of the keys to receive cotterpins 30'. To disengage j i I a connection 40. Tosupport the {hose line'the one section from the other the cotter pins 30 are firstremoved after which the springs y Y 28 arejslightly compressed until the keys 24-" can be removed. Uponremoving the keysthe pins 19 are inturn removed-to tions to be parted. V In fighting fires time is an essential elepermit the secment to be considered. It is desirable, therefore, that the locking pins 19and the keys 24 be always available to quickly-assemblethe 1 sections of-the arm. The pins 19 therefore are permanently. attached to the entering ends 31 of the sections 15 by-a short length of chain 32 while the key 24 is attached to the tube section 17 by means of the chain 33.

. The device may be used in shallow water 7 in connection with land pumping engines,

, but its most important use .is in connection with a fire boat of standard design in which A case the float maybe launched directly from the side of a fire boat v34 or as shown in Figs.

.3 and 4 from the side of a small boat In either case the connecting hose line 7 is attached to the pumping system of thefire boat. To put the apparatus into. action the float with its nozzle and connecting hose line is launch ed upon the surface of the water and section after section is added to the arm dur- (1 .ing which time the hose line is paidout until the required distance is reached, One or more of the floats may be used. As shown 1n Fizz. l three are in operation'each having an leadmgto the independent hose connection pumps of the fire boat.

It is possible for a man to maneuver the floats by grasping the end of the rigid arm I 10. It is possible, however, to'c'ontrol the, floats by other means. The force of reaction so of the nozzle when it is in operation'may'be employed to move the float; Thisnis accomplished by twistingthe end of the arm 10 sufficiently to tip the nozzle slightly, away from its vertical position. An ordinary wrench of any desired type may be directly appliedto the end of the arm 10 to.accomplish this result. For this purpose, however, a special wrench 36 desirably is employed. I The 7 socket portion 37 of thewrenchjis'of the proper size to fit snugly over the end of the 3 square tubing. The wrench is provided withtwo handleextensions 38 which areadapted' to be'grasped by the operator thus enabling him to apply sufficient twist to-the arm totip the-float into'an angular position. .When

in tl' ispositionja component of the force of reaction tends to move the float substantially laterally of the arm 10 which results in swing ingthe float about an arc of which the operating point is a center; Thus thereaction of the nozzle is employed to shift the-position thereofat the will of the operator." Y

The-hose line 7 is'de'sirably'supported from I the anarchy means-of short sections ofchain 39 fixed at one end to the sections 15 andprovidedat its other endwith aquick detachable chains39 are looped around-the hose and fase tened topthe arm sections --15; by means of the a detachable connection 3 8. The chains 39 are preferably of, such a lengththat the'hose line 1 will be suspended beneath the surface ofjthe body'of water from whichthe device is oper- J V where the roadbed is; paved with'non-inflam-.

mable' material such as concrete or cobblestones thus rendering'attack from theupper.

surfaceabsolutely inefiectiv'e. S'uoh'fires can be readily attacked from belowjbymeansof the present invention.

byLetters Patent, is: i a

1. iF're' fighting apparatuscomprising a Having thus described the invention, what i I 3 is" claimed as new.'a-nd 'desired to be secured m'obile float, a conduit supportedat one end on the floats and connectedat its other supply of fireextinguishing fluid, said con- 7 duit having anopening' at the float positioned end to a to project the fluid upwardly and means consition thereof from a remote-point.

nected'to the float operable to control-the p'o- 2. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a mobile float, a'nozzle supported thereon operable'to project one or more jets of fire eXtin-' guishing fluid upwardly therefrom, a' conduit connectingthe nozzle with a supplyof fluid andmeans connected to the float' including a rigidmember operable to control the position of the-float froma remote point. Y 1 7 3. Firefighting ap aratus comprising a on near the surface of the water whichv buoy the floatsaidnozzlepositioned to discharge a shallow mobile float a apted to. be supported 1 I byaibody of water, a nozzle supportedthere Y stream of fluidupwardly,-ahose line connecting thenozzle with a supply of fire 'extinguishingtfiiiid, an armconnectejdat one end. I therefrom: to. control the position thereof i I'wherebya streainoffluid 'm-aydoeprojected upwardly inina'ccessible locationsabove-the to the. float fund; operable at. a point remote surface of a .body of water;

Fire".fightingfappa'ratus 0 If v shallow mobile float, a conduit mounted onnected to said rigid arm at a distance remote said float and connected to a supply of lire from-said float operable to tilt said float. quenching fluid, means on the float connected In testimony whereof, I have signed my to the conduit having an outlet acting to proname to this specification. ject the fluid upwardly from the float and a ARTHUR J. LANDRY. rig-id arm connected to the float having sec- 7 tions detachably joined together by means of V which the length of the arm may be varied,

said arm being operable to control the move- 7 r .l 1 h m ment or the float at a remote po nt therefrom I j i determined by the length of the arm.

5. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a shallow mobile float, a conduit mounted on said float and connected to a supply of fire 5 extinguishing fluid, a nozzle supported by the v r float connected to said conduit and operable to project the fluid upwardly, a rigid arm connected to the float operable to control the a position thereof at a point remote therefrom a j 2' and means acting to support said conduit from the rigid arm.

6. Fire lighting apparatus comprising a shallow mobile float, a conduit mounted on said float and communicating witha supply of 25 fire extinguishing fluid, a nozzle supported l on said float connected *itr said conduit and operable to project the fluid upwardly, a rigid arm formed of detachal le sections flexibly connected to the float operable to control the position thereof at a point remote therefrom and means acting to support said conduit from the rigid arm. V

T. In combination with means to supply fire quenching fluid under pressure, an appa- 35 ratus comprising a mobile float, a conduit supr 109 ported at one end thereby connected to the supply of fire extinguishing fluid and having one or more outlets at the float operable to direct said fluid upwardly tierefrom and a rigid arm formed of detachable sections con 195 nected at one end to the float operable to control the movement thereof at a distance therefrom determined by the length of the'arm.

8. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a shallow mobile float adaptable to be support- 110 ed by a body of Water, a nozzle supported thereon operable to project a stream of fluid upwardly, a conduit connecting the nozzle with a supply of flre extinguishing fluid, a

a rigid arm connected to the float operable to I to shallow mobile float, a conduit mounted on control the position thereof at a point remote therefrom and means acting to support said conduit from said rigid arm below the surface of the body of water. on which the float'rests V r p 1 whereby fluid may be projected against burn- 129 ing objects in inaccessible places above the surface of the said body of Water and the conduit protected from'the heat of the fire.

' 9. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a said float and connected to. a supply of flre extinguishing fluid, a nozzle supported by the float connected to said conduit and arranged to project the fluid upwardly, a rigid r arm connected to the float. and means eon 130 

